Freedom in Christ to live by the Spirit

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves! For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Jesus set you free to have freedom

Paul argued, the reason why Jesus set the Galatian believers free was for freedom. The law revealed their condition as slaves to sin. So, Paul commands them to stand firm and do not allow themselves to be burdened again by a yoke of slavery, which in this context was the law. He calls to their attention: If one accepts circumcision as a means of justification, Christ will not profit them. That person will be obligated to keep the whole law, and be severed or released from Christ. They are thus considered to have fallen away from grace. To “fall away” means to be deprived of, forfeit, or lose. The phrase fallen away does not suggest one loses their salvation because salvation is not earned. To “fall away” most likely means deprived of it. Thus, those who turn to circumcision for justification deprive themselves of God’s favor. It is through the Spirit, by faith, which believers eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. There is a clear contrast between the condition of those who have fallen away from God’s grace with those who have received the grace of God. This hope of righteousness is an already but not yet concept, along with salvation. We experience the righteousness now, but in its fulness in eternity. Hence, there is a hope, which conveys a waiting expectation, of righteousness. For in Christ, whether one is circumcised or uncircumcised is does not avail, have any power, or any efficiency to justify. The only thing that avails, have power, or the efficiency to justify is faith expressing itself through love.

Paul uses running a race as a figure of speech. They were running well but Paul asks, “Who cut in (restrained as if one is holding you back) to keep them from obeying the truth (not the law)? Remember, Paul has argued over the course of the letter that the truth of the gospel is justification by faith in Jesus. That kind of persuasion is not from God, who is the one who calls believers to faith. Paul warns that a little leaven, leavens the whole lump. Meaning, even a little distortion of the truth can totally distort the truth. But Paul, has confidence in the LORD, not them, that they will take no other view except the truth he preached. The ones who distort the truth to throw them into confusion will pay the penalty, which Paul stated in chapter 1, “let them be cursed.” Paul’s question regarding persecution for preaching circumcision, either implies there are accusations he preaches justification by works, or demonstrates he preaches otherwise. His persecution is proof he is not teaching a works based righteousness. If he were, the offense (stumbling block) of the cross would be abolished. Finally, he harshly rebukes the agitators, wishing they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves.

Life by the Spirit

Believer’s are called to freedom. But the believers freedom is not meant to be used to as an opportunity for the flesh. Instead, their freedom is meant to be used to serve one another humbly in love. For the entirety of the law is fulfilled in the command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Paul warns them against abusing one another or they will be destroyed by one another. Where loving your neighbor brings unity amongst the fellowship, abusing one another brings about destruction. It is worth noting Paul speaks against works of the law for righteousness but he uses a commandment from the law to identify how believers use their freedom.

The freedom is brought about through the Spirit, hence Paul, upon his apostolic authority says walk (live) by the Spirit, so that they will not gratify (to fulfill or carry out into full operation) the desires (cravings or lusting) of the flesh. Paul revealed a conflict or hostility between the Spirit and the flesh. And it is a healthy one that benefits the believer because walking by the Spirit, thus essentially being at war with the flesh keeps them from doing what they desire. “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law” further highlights the freedom we receive through the Spirit by faith in Christ. Under the law, one is made conscience of sin. In Romans 7:8-9, Paul wrote, “But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead. I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died.” Essentially, being under the law we are constantly made aware we are deserving of God’s wrath.

And the acts of the flesh are evident (manifest, known, visible). Paul lists 15 vices (immoral or wicked acts) as well as other like it. Paul warns the Galatians that those who practice these things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But there are 9 virtues called the fruit of the Spirit, Paul identifies. It is the character traits of the Spirit of God. Fruit of the Spirit does not imply one virtue can be demonstrated absent of the others. If so, the Spirit is not of God. Therefore, all virtues should be evident in a believer who is led and lives by the Spirit. According to these things there is no law. Meaning the law does not produce these virtues. Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Finally, if one lives by the Spirit, he or she must keep in step (meaning to frame their conduct) with the Spirit, not becoming prideful, envious of others, or provoking one another.

Conclusion

Here are some concluding principles for us to consider:

For freedom Christ has set us free

Stand firm and do not turn back to the old ways, which are yokes of slavery

Our righteousness is not earned but received by faith in Jesus.

Those who try to be justified by the law deprive themselves of God’s grace

Faith expressing itself through love avails

Run the race without hindrance.

Be mindful of the doctrine you hear and the company you keep

Your freedom is an opportunity serve one another humbly in love, not indulge your flesh

“Love your neighbor as yourself” is the fulfillment of the law

Love bring about unity whereas abuses bring about destruction

Be led, live, and frame your conduct by the Spirit

The conflict you endure between Spirit and flesh is healthy and beneficial.

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